Religion, Philosophy, and Peace Studies

Studying religion at Wilmington College offers the opportunity to explore not only the Quaker tradition informing the history and mission of the College since its founding, but also the broader Christian tradition and other major religions of the world. Whether in courses on the Bible or the historical Jesus, on dreams or comparative religions, students are invited to engage with the mystery of the sacred, and the ethical and philosophical questions that have occupied human beings since the dawn of history.

Philosophy is the love of wisdom. Wisdom emerges from clear, logical, and creative thought, and an earnest attempt to understand reality, knowledge, ethical responsibility, and other concerns in our everyday lives. Philosophy attempts to integrate all human thought and experience into a meaningful whole.

Study in Religion and Philosophy can lead to careers in the ministry, but most important, the breadth of knowledge, the critical thought skills, and the holistic thinking required in this major are valued in business, law, and other professions.

Degrees

Courses

RP132G: MYSTERIES AND MIRACLES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: BIBLE I

Credits 2
This course surveys some of the most famous and inspiring characters and stories in the Christian Old Testament. Our study will be guided by questions concerning the many moral dilemmas, mysteries, and miracles the Old Testament presents: Where did the universe come from, and why do people die? Did God have a wife? What does the Old Testament say about charging interest, slavery, war, sexuality, and homosexuality? Where did Satan come from? Did other figures in biblical history besides Jesus heal and raise people from the dead?

RP133G: FROM THE GOSPELS TO REVELATION: BIBLE II

Credits 2
This course surveys the New Testament Christian Scriptures from the Gospels to Revelation, focusing on the mysterious, miracle-working Jesus of Nazareth whom Christians worship as messiah and savior. Guiding our study will be such questions as: What led early Christians to conclude that Jesus was not merely the messiah, but God in the flesh? What did Jesus teach about God and God’s kingdom, about war, treatment of the poor, the sick, the stranger or the immigrant? What does Jesus have to teach about sexual relationships, and was he married, as suggested by gospels that were censored from the Christian Bible? Did Jesus and his followers predict the end of the world?

RP140: THE BIG IDEAS: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Credits 4

This course provides students with an opportunity to transformatively wrestle with "the big questions" by introducing them to the key themes, thinkers and debates in western philosophy. How do we decide what is right and what is wrong? Does God exist? What is truth and how do we find it? Assuming no background in philosophy, this highly accessible class will help students think about these big questions in a practical way that connects to their lives and the ordinary problems we face everyday.  We will not only explore key issues in the history of philosophy but actively work to apply them to urgent contemporary problems like fake news, social media and the environmental crises. 

RP231: INTRODUCTION TO QUAKERS

Credits 4
An introductory study of the faith and practice of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) with more emphasis on current Friends' experience than the history of this religious community.

RP239: VALUES AND ETHICS

Credits 4
A survey of major ethical theories and contemporary moral issues (possible topics include abortion, war and pacifism, sexual ethics, environmental ethics) emphasizing the human experience of moral decision-making in a changing world of competing values. Includes a Service component.

RP240G: COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS I: JUDAISM AND ISLAM

Credits 2
This course surveys two of the world’s great monotheistic faiths. As much as modern conflict between these two religions might suggest otherwise, Judaism and Islam, like Christianity, trace their roots back to Abraham, the Old Testament patriarch traditionally identified as the first person to worship the one God. In addition to introducing the historical origins and sacred scripture of these two faiths, this course will also explore Judaism and Islam as they are practiced and lived today.

RP241G: COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS II: INDIGENOUS AND EASTERN RELIGIONS

Credits 2
This course surveys the major religious traditions of India, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. We begin our survey with a consideration of world indigenous (including Native American) religions, whose ancient, nature-and-land-based belief systems continue to shape and find expression in contemporary Eastern religions. Our survey will then study the ancient roots and contemporary expressions of Hinduism in India. We then turn our attention to Buddhism which, after originating in the teachings of the Buddha in the sixth century BCE, spread eastward into China and Japan, where it still exists alongside Daoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism to this day. As an example of interreligious dialogue, Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Living Buddha, Living Christ will guide us in tracing the common ground Buddhism and Christianity share, along the way also introducing various Buddhist meditation techniques.

RP250: ISSUES IN RELIGION and Philosophy

Credits 4

This course introduces students to current issues in the academic study of religion and philosophy, including the following topics: Quakers, Critical Thinking, the Philosophy of Religion, and others.  Course may be repeated when topics vary. 

Introduction to the attitudes and skills of critical thinking. Emphasis on the identification and analysis of informal fallacies.and some features of formal logic.

RP336: Ethical Eating : Food Ethics and the Environmental Crisis

Credits 4
Skill
W

Food is a moral issue. Every time we eat we make a decision that affects ourselves,  others, and the planet.  So how can we eat well?  What does it mean to produce, distribute, and consume food in a morally responsible way?  This class will explore these complex questions by introducing students to the basic issues of ethical theory, food ethics and environmental philosophy.  Do we have moral responsibilities to nonhuman animals and the earth?  If so, how can we practice agriculture in a sustainable way that honors these responsibilities? What are the pros and cons of a globalized food system? What is food insecurity and how do we address it? Should we be worried about bioengineering and GMO's? These are just some of the many questions we will be addressing inour quest to discover what it means to become ethical eaters. 

This course will explore the intersections between ecology and ethics. Through both theoretical readings in moral philosophy and topic-based readings on particular environmental issues, students will engage in serious reflection on the obligations that we have toward the natural world. In addition to traditional coursework, students will also undertake a major, hands-on project that explores a substantial ecological issue in the Wilmington and/or tri-state area.

RP347: The Good Life

Credits 4

What does it mean to be human?  What makes us truly happy? What is a good life and how do we achieve it? These are some of life's most important questions. This class will help answer them by surveying the history if philosophy from around the globe. Seeking insights from the Ancient Gods, Eastern traditions like Buddhism and Confucianism, and modern European philosophy, we will comparatively explore how history's greatest thinkers have approached the meaning of life. Most importantly, we will discuss the relevance of these approaches to our lives today. Can philosophy and Ancient figures like Socrates really help us become better and more fulfilled people? Yes!  This class will demonstrate how. 

 

RP450: TOPICS IN RELIGION/PHILOSOPHY

Credits 4
Topics of current interest and concern to students and faculty in the field of religion and philosophy, such as the following topics: Dreams and World Mythology, Baseball and Philosophy. Course may be repeated when topics vary.

RP495: SENIOR PROJECT

Credits 4
A capstone course for the Peace and Nonviolence and Ecological Ethics Concentrations in the Religion and Philosophy major, the Senior Project provides an opportunity for students to pursue research, a practical project, or a combination of these two. Unlike the RP Internship, the Senior Project involves more traditional library research, though students would also be encouraged to consider internships on or off campus, study, service, or travel experiences abroad, as a basis for their senior paper, which will be completed in close and regular collaboration with Religion and Philosophy faculty. With its more substantial research and writing component, the RP Senior Project is designed particularly for those considering graduate work in the field.